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WEEK 1 - Create your own "juice carton" tank
As a new term`s challenge began, the teams all met in the school hall viewing the intricate tank models brought along by Jim the tank model specialist. It was great to see some familiar faces mixed with a number of new recruits.
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For the first week the twenty three families competing formed twenty two teams and were all given the necessary components to build a tank around a juice carton powered by an axle battery operated motor.
After cutting the top panel out of the juice carton, each team glued a template to each side providing the correct position to place the axles. With adult supervison, holes were pierced with a skewer in preperation for the metal rod axles.
Once this was completed you could thread the axles through, including the motor axle before fitting the wheels in pairs.
When questions arose, there were plenty of volunteers to steer you in the right direction on a one to one basis. Then it was time to fit the tracks in the central groove formed by the two wheels.
The top cover was folded from a printed sheet of A4 and with the battery pack in position it was ready to test.
It was great fun with plenty of adult and child interaction.
To celebrate the launch there was a large tank themed cake which everybody enjoyed.
But there is always time to gain a little bit more imformation!
WEEK 2 - The building begins
As the teams arrived for the second session of the eight week task, they were met in the car park by the largest remote controlled tank anybody had seen!
Back in the main hall teams were reminded of the criteria required for their models, then it was off to start building their creations.
It was great to see the enthusiasm by adults and children alike.
There was plenty of activity at the cutting area as recycled items turned into tank components.
Not to forget the optional tank shelter.
At the tea break, Simon announced the first round of voting for the next terms challenge. This would be done over two weeks with a knock out round this week to narrow the options for next week`s vote.
Once the refreshments were consumed it was back to the working areas to carry on with the task in hand.
With the session coming to an end, teams were proud to show off their creative work before returning to the car park where Jim demonstrated his large remote controlled tank to close this week`s proceedings.
WEEK 3 - The battle continues......
After a short introduction to this weeks activities, it was off to the work stations to continue the imaginative creative designs started the previous week.
During the introduction, votes were cast for the next terms power task. Each team were given a bean bag to place in one of the named boxes short listed by last week`s vote.
Would they choose 4 x 4 jeep, a fork lift truck or even a train!
To give the adults time to fine tune the tanks mechanism, Simon took the younger team members aside to help create their individual ideas into workable models. While the adults took testing to a new "plastic melting" level!! - Good to see that the competitiveness has slowed up.
Along with the cutting area, there were two additional "specialised areas". Teams could solder their battery packs to their axles or extend their axles to make their model tanks wider.
After a short tea break, the session concluded with more fun packed construction. Even the optional tank shelters were looking stunning as they started to take shape.
But as the teams packed away, was it your work station that was left untidy?
WEEK 4 - Teams approach the half term break......
As Simon welcomed the teams to week 4 of the tank challenge, he had two annoucements to make. Firstly the winner of last weeks vote to find the next challenge`s subject was "Robots". Next he showed off the new Whacky Scrap Races T shirt, which will be supplied to each team member.
Then it was through to the work area to add to the creative designs and have some more family fun.
Using the research books available it was up to each team to calculate the winning formula.
As the session progressed the hard work was showing through.
The younger members were offered a chance to make their own team flag which made a colourful addition.
Even the adults were having fun too.
The tanks and shelters were taking shape.
All around the room there were smiles.
WEEK 5 - Creating the tank`s driver.
After the half term break, it was back to the action as Donna welcomed the competing teams into the main hall. She reminded everybody about the "People`s award" and guided them to the Meet the teams page where voters can put names to familiar faces. This week the younger team members were offered the chance to make a figure out of air clay which would 'drive' their tank.
The adults carried on calculating the winning formula.
The family bonding continued as the imagination showed through in the creative designs.
Even the children were hard at work making sure the tanks were ready for the time trials.
The room was very busy as the excitment grew.
To help the teams, the cutting area had a few new arrivals including a drill and a selection of saws.
Not to forget the optional tank shelters which are coming along in all shapes and sizes.
While the children put the finishing touches to their "drivers"
Soon it was time to clean the paint pallets and tidy their work stations as the session came to a close.
Judging by the air clay models, the tanks will be all different sizes too!
WEEK 6 - Test week.....
As the returning Simon introduced the week`s events, he was pleased to invite the teams to test their models using a variety of weights ranging from 5 to 500 grammes. If you felt confident, you could add up different sized weights to maximise the testing for your tank.
The teams got straight down to work with final preparations.
Then it was through to the main hall with anticipation.......
After the first attempts some teams went back to their work stations to make a few adjustments.
Even the cutting area looked busier than ever! With a full range of tools at hand.
With the tanks in motion, teams turned their attentions to their optional shelters. The variety of buildings were stunning and certainly will add colour to the rest of the challenge.
Not to forget the finishing touches to the air clay figures which will drive the tanks on finals day.
But who hired "The Stig" to test drive their tank?
WEEK 7 - Final preperations............
With only one week left before the final it was all hands to the pump to finish the creations ready for judging.
The main hall was quickly filled with teams seeing how much weight their tanks could pull.
The shop was busy with teams adding their final flair to the optional shelter. Who will win the award based on the childrens input supported by the adults?
The teams worked together to put the shine on their imaginative designs.
Meanwhile the families continued to test in the hall.....
After some testing the teams tweaked their models in the search for perfection.
The tanks were looking varied posing a dilemma for the judges next week.
But as the teams tried to pull even more, the strain started to tell as motors smelt of burning and axles broke under the pressure.
Don`t forget to hand in your "get set go activity" so as your teams runs will count in the challenge and remember to collect your Whacky Scrap Races T shirt on arrival next week to wear with pride at the final.
WEEK 8 - The Final
As the teams arrived in the main hall, they admired the prizes on offer including the much sort after "Wooden spoon award".
The teams collected their tanks and shelters from the storage container and set out their displays ready for the judging.
Once ready, the teams queued up to take part in phase one of qualifying.
Then each team tried to pull upto 1kg which would put them through to the next stage of the final.
The colourful designs kept coming, giving the judges the usual tough decision of who to award the prizes to.
With the team members wearing their new T shirts it was easier to identify who belonged to which team.
After a refreshment break, the six teams who managed to pull 1 kg went head to head. They introduced weights to the front of the tanks to increase the weight they could pull.
The teams gathered in the main hall after a close run final to find out where they finished.
The first award announced was the People`s Award. When all the votes were counted the certificate and remote controlled tank went to Speedy Snails.
The best tank shelter awarded on child involvement went to Maybe Purley Power.
The engraved cup for the best tank design went to Cat Scrap, with Wright Battalion picking up the highly commended runner up certificate.
The session leaders awards were given out to the Wright Battalion for the best use of recycling. The team work award went to The Hudson Harriers.
Simon and Donna also chose Team Tornado and Kat Kit for their Cleanest Workstation award.
The highly decorated wooden spoon award went to The Hudson Harriers.
The new Attendance Award was drawn by Daniel and the proud owners of the second remote controlled tank were the 59ers.
In third place pulling 1.350 kg was the Mutley Crew.
Runners up this challenge went to Team Gibbins who managed to pull 1.750 kg.
Finally Top Gear were crowned champions of the tank challenge with a total weight of 1.850 kg.
To see where your team finished, check out the final results table below.
Top Gear 1.850 kg
Team Gibbins 1.750 kg
Mutley Crew 1.350 kg
Blast Off Bannings 1.250 kg
Team Shaw 1.250 kg
Team Tornado 1.250 kg
Bailey Bashers 750 g
Cat Scrap 750 g
Team Rowlinson 750 g
Wright Battalion 750 g
Extreme Team 500 g
59ers 500 g
Mintie Mouse 500 g
Speedy Snails 500 g
Intervention 250 g
Kat Kit 250 g
Team Warren 250 g
Bracknell Builders 100 g
Clever Cheetahs 0 g
Maybe Purley Power 0 g
Tanktastic Mannings 0 g
Hudson Harriers No distance covered
Finally it was time to say goodbye to Daniel after seven challenges as a much loved volunteer, mainly responsible for the smooth running of the Whacky shop. He was presented with a medal to remind him of his time with the project.
Many thanks to all the voluteers which make this family fun activity happen along with Simon and Donna's leadership.
A special thank you to the local model enthusiast who donated the remote controlled tanks.
Finally , a thank you to all the competing teams who allow the use of their photos on this website and look forward to seeing you again for the Robot challenge in January 2011.
For more photographs of the final click on
http://www.mark-1-tank.co.uk/index.html
